Champagne corks were popping and the entire trade show team in Friedrichshafen breathed an extremely happy sigh of relief when the news broke that OutDoor will continue to be held on the shores of Lake Constance. “Now we can carry on with the OutDoor success story,” said the overjoyed Messe Friedrichshafen CEO, Klaus Wellmann, after the European Outdoor Group (EOG) announced its decision in Munich on Wednesday.
In a secret ballot, the 47 member firms eligible to vote each cast one ballot under notary supervision to reach this result. “We are of course absolutely delighted with this result,” Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann said on behalf of the trade show team and the entire city.
Over the past few weeks, the decision had been very eagerly awaited by all those participating. Since 1994 Messe Friedrichshafen has successfully positioned OutDoor among the ranks of international trade shows and made this “summit for the outdoor industry” into Europe’s leading exhibition and an event that serves as a worldwide model. The numbers of visitors and exhibitors have more than tripled over the past 14 years and the international character and media impact have rapidly developed: “We live and breathe this event,” said the proud Friedrichshafen trade show team, which has cultivated a close partnership with the EOG. For Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann and Project Manager Stefan Reisinger, this positive vote represents both an important business order and a personal challenge to make this nature sports event which takes place in “extremely inspiring outdoor surroundings” – into the world’s leading trade show for the industry over the coming years.
